Nestled between the Aberdare ranges and Mt Kenya, just south of Mithuti town is Kihuyo Factory. Originally part of the great Tetu FCS, in 2004 the factory and its workers, as well as 7 others, went their separate ways and formed the Mutheka Farmers Co-operative Society.
As with most areas in Kenya the farms here are small averaging only half an acre, or 300 trees. Even with such small farms Kihuyu Factory still pulls cherry from 1.2 million trees!
Mutheka FCS has put in place numerous sustainable practices to reduce their impact on the surrounding area. They re-circulate water during processing then treat it in soak pits so the local water ways aren't polluted, and all cherry removed is collected by farmers for use as mulch to improve soil structure and composition.
Kihuyo Factory has several initiative aimed at improving the living standards of its members and employees such as, credit facilities for school fees and medical emergencies, provision of farm inputs on credit and training for farmers on better practices in collaboration with input suppliers and the Ministry of Agriculture.
